Sensitive manometer



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SENSITIVE MANOMETER Filed June 2, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1952 SENSTEVE MANGMETER Samuel Skipton Carlisle and Bernard Owen Smith, London, England, assignors to The Eritish Iron and Steel Research Association, London, England, a British company Application June 2, 1949, Serial No. 95,752 In Great Britain March 19, 1948 l Claims.

This invention relates to instruments for measuring an applied mechanical force. While the invention is not confined to any particular class of such instrument it will be hereinafter described as applied to a sensitive differential pressure measuring instrument or manometers. This instrument is capable of measuring and remotely indicating differential gaseous pressures or the order of hundredths of an inch water gauge. The instrument has been developed for use in measuring the pressure above or below atmospheric within an open hearth steel-making furnace, but it may be employed for many other purposes also. For example it may be used to measure the difference of pressure in a gas conduit on opposite sides of an orice plate and thereby afford a measurement of the rate of flow of gas through the conduit.

An instrument in accordance with the in ention comprises essentially a rod mounted for free axial movement, means for producing a magnetic field, an electric restoring coil mounted on the rod and moving in the magnetic eld, means for applying to the rod so as to produce axial displacement thereof the force to be measured, means responsive to the displacement cf the rod for producing an electric current of a strength increasing With the degree of displacement, means for applying said current to said restoring coil whereby to produce a mechanical force balancing said applied force and means for measuring said current. The nature of the invention will otherwise suiciently appear from the appended claims when read in the light of the iollowing description of the particular embodiments ci the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

in these drawings,

Figure 1 is an axial section through the head unit of the instrument,

Figure 2 is an electrical circuit diagram the amplifier unit of the instrument and Figure 3 shows a modication of a part the device shown in Figure l.

Referring rst to Figure l, the head unit comprises a base I provided with shock absorbing mountings 2 and supporting a vertical ring s. Secured on opposite sides of this ring are two half casings 4, formed with central apertures i3, adapted for connection respectively to the points Whose pressure difference is to be measured. Across the gas tight enclosure formed by the casings l there extends a vertically disposed rigid diaphragm 5 carried upon a horizontally disposed axial rod 7, the diaphragm and axis rod being mounted (in a manner described below) for free axial movement.

For the purposes oi the invention the diaphragm and its axis rod may be regarded as freely mounted if the mechanical restraint to their movement in an axial direction is negligible by comparison with the force developed by the application of the differential pressures to be measured to the opposite sides of the diaphragm. With the present design oi instrument a diaphragm displacement of about l mm. occurs under the application oi the maximum differential pressure oi 0.1 inch vv. g. (35 grams force on the diaphragm), while the freedom of the diaphragm such that the mechanical restraint introduced for a displacement of l mm. not more than about 0.4 gram.

Taking into account this mechanical restraint and the small reaction force developed by the detector (discussed later) the total restraining force on the diaphragm due to these sources is less than toth part of the restraint produced by the moving coil. The effective percentage feed back in the measuring system is thus of the order oi 97%. This results in a high stability of calibration of the instrument and makes it ef- Yiectively independent of normal variations in amplier gain and variations in spring strength of the mechanical restraint such as might arise in the suspension system. It is also clear that with this order oi percentage feed back no appreciable drift in the Zero reading of the instrument is to be expected with normal distortions of the frame such as might tend to move the detector assembly relative to the diaphragm system.

At one end of the axis rod is an electrical detector unit designated in general as the signal from which is applied to an electronic amplifier to produce an electric current whose direction and strength are dependent upon the direction and degree of displacement of the diaphragm. rihis current is applied to a coil il mounted on the opposite end of the axis rod and moving in the eld of a strong permanent magnet It, the arrangement being such that the restoring force on the diaphragm developed by the moving coil accurately proportional to the current through the coil.

The application oi a differential pressure to the apertures 5 and thus to the diaphragm causes a displacement of the axis rod, which results in sunicient current being supplied to the moving coil for the latter to produce a balancing force equal to that arising from the differential pressure on the diaphragm. Provided that the above mentioned requirements are fulfilled, the current in the moving coil when this equilibrium condition is attained is directly proportional to the differential pressure to be measured, so that a measurement of this current made by any suitable instrument located at any required position affords the desired indication. y Y

The diaphragm 6 consists of a thin rigid disc of the material known as paxolin and measures rive inches in diameter. The annular space between the outer edge of the diaphragm and the central mounting ring 3 is sealed oi by an annulus II of goldbeaters skin. At its centre the diaphragm carries a boss I2 which is secured upon the tubular aluminum axis rod l. This rod is supported upon the upper ends of four pillars, disposed two on each side of the diaphragm, the pillars of each pair being set at right angles to one another in the form of an inverted V. Each pillar comprises a length of stil aluminum rod I3, secured between and in alignment with two short lengths I4, I of flexible beryllium-copper strip. The lower strips I4 are 'secured to stationary rings IB, clamped to the central ring 3V, while the upper strips I5 v,are secured to collars Il secured on the axis rod 1. Owing to their construction the pillars have a considerablerigidity along their length and thus accurately position the centre axis of the diaphragml but they have a high degree of exibility to bending, thus allowing free motion of the diaphragm in an axial direction. A damping plate I8, consisting of a circular disc of brass with a central hole through which the axis rod 'I passes freely, is secured to the central ring 3 on one side of the diaphragm, so as to provide air damping on the motion of the diaphragm. The degree of damping can be adjusted by adjusting or removing caps I9 covering openings in the damping disc. In the construction of the diaphragm and its support care is taken to keep the inertia of the moving parts as low as possible, in order to reduce the tendency of the system to self-oscillation when high amplier and detector sensitivity is used and thus minimise the degree of air damping required to maintain stable operation.

The electrical detector unit 8 comprises a core 2e formed by a short length of soft iron rod secured on one end of the axis rod 7. The core is axially displaceable within a -three winding solenoid which is more than twice the length of the core and comprises two identical inner windings 2l, 22 disposed side by side and an outer Winding 23 which surrounds the two inner windings and is energised by alternating current of 50 c. p. s. The three windings are carried on a former 24 supported in a housing 25A which is carried by a truste-conical spider 26 secured to the centre ring 3. The two inner windings are connected in opposition so that the induced voltage in them is zero when the core is symmetrically located between them. A displacement of the core to either side produces in the two inner coils a voltage whose amplitude is approximately proportional to the displacement and whose phase is dependent upon the direction of displacement. In the instrument in question the displacement of the diaphragm under a diierential pressure of 0.1 inch water gauge vis approximately 1 millimetre and in response to this displacement the detector produces a voltage of 0.75 volt. The reaction force on the core of the detector when the displaced 1 millimetre from its central position with the normal loading'on the detector output is 0.3 gm.

The moving coil and permanent magnet system used for producing the restoring force is similar to that -found in the normal lmoving coil loudspeaker. The pot type magnet ID is constructed from an annular ring Ticonal permanent magnet Ilia, the remainder of the magnetic circuit and pole system being made from annealed mild steel. The dimensions of the magnet and air gap are such that a gap flux density of approximately 2000 gauss is produced. The magnet is supported on a truste-conical spider 21 secured to the centre ring 3. The restoring coil 9 consists of 600 turns of 39 S. W. G. enameled wire wound on a Tufnol Vformer 28 secured on the end of the axis rod 1. The length of the coil is about 1.4 times the length of the air gap in the magnet, which permits an axial movement of the coil in the gap relative to its central position of about i2 mm. without appreciable change in the constant relating force on the coil to current through it. The ilux density in the air gap and the number of turns on the coil are so designed that a force of approximately 35 grams (corresponding to a diierential pressure of 0.1 inch w. e. on an effective diaphragm diameter of 5.3 inches) is developed for a coil current or 30 milliamps. The calibration of the instrument is finally adjusted by a shunt resistance across the coil in order to obtain an exact calibration of 30 milliamps for .1 inch w. g. differential pressure. This calibration constant is chosen to suit available current recorders and the automatic control equipment with which the instrument is to be used.

The diaphragm, axis rod, detector unit, restoring coil and magnet and V'their supporting parts are enclosed by covers 29 of silk fabric, whose edges are clamped between the casings li and the central ring 3. These silk covers protect the moving parts of the instrument against any dust which may enter the casing through the apertures 5. Electrical connections to the coils of the detector unit 8 and to the restoring coil 9 are eiected through a seven-pin plug connector 30.

The purpose or the amplier unit is to convert the small alternating current signal developed in the detector 8 to a direct current of direction and strength suitable for energising the restoring force coil 9. Working on the basis of a maximum diaphragm displacement of `1 mm. which gives rise to an output of 0.75 volt from the detector, it is clear that the amplifier gain must be such as to give a direct current output of approximately 30 milliamps for this value of input signal. Furthermore, the rectication must take account of the phase of the signal developed by the detector since it determines the direction of the displacement of the diaphragm and this must govern the polarity of the current in the restoring coil in order that the balancing force is generated in the appropriate direction.

Referring to the circuit diagram (Figure 2) the detector voltage is applied.- via step-up transformer SI to the grids of the power pentodes 32 and 33 whose anodes are fed in anti-phase with the mains alternating current supply voltage. Condenser 313 is introduced to adjust the phase of the grid voltages so that they are in phase or in anti-phase with the anode voltages. An analysis of this circuit will show that the pentodes act as grid controlled full wave rectiers, the total anode current which is passed through the restoring coil 9 being A'dependent on the amplitude of the grid voltages. With an input voltage of one phase the valves conduct heavily and as this voltage is reduced to zero and then increased in the opposite phase the total anode current falls to zero. In order that the valves can be operated on the optimum portion of their characteristic while still giving a range of control of the current in the restoring coil from 0 to milliamps a backing-off current is passed through the coil. This current is supplied from an alternating current source via rectiiier and control resistance 30. The indicating meters, recorders or operating coil of an automatic controller are connected at 31 in series with the restoring coil ii. The circuit is designed to take account of an automatic controller operating coil resistance of 3,000 ohms and if this is not in use a resistance 38 is included to maintain the total series resistance at the value for which the circuit is designed. Although the instrument is normally required for use on a pressure range 0 to 0.1 inch w. g. and thus the operating range of the current in the restoring coil is 0 to 30 milliamps it is clear that by adjustment of the backing-off current referred to earlier the range can be extended to operate from, say, 0.02 inch w. g. to -1-0.1 inch w. g., the reverse currents in the coil being provided by the backing-ofi current. In the design of the amplifier and rectifier circuit consideration has been given to circuit simplicity and reliability of operation. It is pointed out that even in the case of complete failure of one valve the circuit continues to operate, but with reduced eiiiciency, the only difference being that the effective output current for a given input voltage is halved and half-wave rectication occurs instead of full wave. This only seriously affects the calibration of the instrument in the higher position of the pressure range, namely 0.05 inch w. g. upwards.

Amongst advantages of the instrument described are the following.

The design of the instrument is such that a high degree or stability of calibration and freedom from zero drift can be achieved in the measurement of low differential pressures, while still maintaining a simple mechanical construction in which reasonably large machining tolerances can be allowed without detrimental effect on the instrument performance. This stability of calibration also means that less precautions need be taken to protect the instrument from temperature fluctuations vibration and other disturbances encountered in industrial applications. The principle of operation permits remote indication and recording of the instrument readings in terms of an electrical signal without the restriction of distance or requiring the use of long runs of pressure piping. The instrument has a high speed ci response to pressure fluctuations which suits it for use with automatic control equipment. It is pointed out that, since the measuring head can be connected close to the pressure measuring point and the controller or recorder installed at any desired distance from the measuring head, any deterioration in response speed such as is incurred by long runs of pressure piping is avoided. rlhe thermionic amplifier and rectifier unit is of a very simple form and lends itself to robust construction suitable for works use. In any properly designed electronic amplifier the element which tends to reduce the reliability of operation is the thermionic valve because of its indeterminate life and the variability of its parameters with operating voltages and ageing. However, because of the high percentage of feed-back used in this instrument the variability of the valve parameters does not influence the instrument calibration while the indeterminate Valve life is effectively taken care of by the fact that the instrument will continue to operate in spite of a valve failure. Failure of one valve during operation can be readily shown by an indicator lamp on the ampliiier unit, and valve replacement is one of the simplest and quickest maintenance tasks to carry out.

As already indicated, the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement and construc-4 tion described above, many modiiications being' possible. if the permanent magnet iti of the instrument is replaced by an electroinagnet which is excited with the same current as that passed through the restoring coil, it will be seen that the force on the coil is proportional to the square of this current, and thus at equilibrium the current in the coil will be proportional to the square foot of the pressure applied to the diaphragm. This arrangement is of particular advantage when the instrument is used for measurement of the differential pressure developed across an orince, as in iiow measurement, since, as is well known, the pressure across the orifice is proportional to the square of the iiow rate and thus the current read from the instrument will be linearly related to the rate of flow through the orice. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the permanent magnet i?) of Figure l replaced by an electromagnet comprising a built up pot d@ of Swedish iron, radio metal or other suitable material with a low coercive force and an energising coil lli. This energising coil is connected in series with the restoring coil 9, so that it also carries the output current from the amplifier.

We claim:

l. in a device for measuring diierential gaseous iiuid pressures, the combination comprising, a supporting base having a mounting ring upstanding thereon, a pressure responsive diaphragni extending across the opening in said mounting ring, means for applying said pressures respectively to the opposite faces of said diaphragm, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of said diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a spider secured to each face of said mounting ring, a coil support carried by one of said spiders, inductively related annular coil means arranged on said support coaxially witn rod, said coil means including a primary adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary, an iron core extending axially outwC from one end "aid rod, said oerv being slide, within the central in said coils fiom a neutral position upon axial displacement or said rod to produce in saic. secondary a volte output proportional to the rod displacem magnetic field producing means secured to tno other one of said spiders, a restoring coil scour to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end of said rod for movement in said magnetic field., said restoring coil being connected in circuit with said secondary and operable upon energization thereof to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being equal to and serving to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to by said diaphragm as a result of a change in the c ferential between the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the current nowing therein.

Y2. In aV device for measuring differential gaseous fluid pressures, the combination comprising, a supporting base having a mounting ring upstanding thereon, a pressure responsive diaphragm extending across the opening in said mounting ring, means for applying said pressures respectively to the opposite faces of said diaphragm, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of said diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a. spider secured to each face of said mounting ring, a coil support carried by one of said spiders, a plurality of annular coil means arranged on said support coaxially with said rod, said coil means including a primary coil adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current and a pair of secondary coils connected in opposition, an iron core extending axially outward from one end of said rod, said core being slidable within the central openings in said coils from a neutral position upon axial displacement of said rod to produce a voltage output from said secondary coils proportional to the rod displacement and whose phase is dependent upon the sense of the displacement, magnetic field producing means secured to the other one of said spiders, a restoring coil secured to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end of said rod for movement in said magnetic neld, said restoring coil being connected in circuit with said secondary coils and operable upon energia-ation thereof to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being equal to and serving to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to said rod by said dia phragm as a result of a change in the differential between the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the current flowing therein.

3. In a device for measuring diierential gaseous fluid pressures the combination comprising, a supporting base having a mounting ring upstanding thereon, a half casing attached to each face of said ring, each said casing half being provided with a fluid inlet adapted to be ccnnected respectively to the two sources of iiuids Whose pressure differential is to be measured, a pressure responsive diaphragm extending across the opening in said mounting ring, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a spider secured to each face of said mounting ring within the associated casing half, a coil support carried by one of said spiders, a plurality of annular coil means arranged on said support coaxially with said rod, said coil means including a primary coil adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current and a pair of secondary coils connected in opposition, an iron core extending axially outward from one end of said rod, said core being slidable axially within the central openings in said coils from a neutral position upon axial displacement of said rod to produce a voltage output from said secondary coils proportional to the rod displacement and whose phase is dependent upon the sense of said displacement, magnetic eld producing means secured to the other of said spiders, a restoring coil secured to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end or" said rod for movement in said magnetic eld, said restoring coil being connect- 8,. ed in circuit with said secondary coils and operable upon energization thereof to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being equal to and serving to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to said rod by said diaphragm as a result of a change in the dinerential of the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the Vcurrent flowing therein.

4. A device for measuring differential fluid pressure as defined in claim 3 and which further includes a damping plate extending across the opening in said mounting ring, said damping plate being disposed between one face of said diaphragm and one of said fluid inlets and including a plurality of apertures therethrough, and adjustable cover means associated with each said aperture for adjusting the degree of the aperture opening to thereby vary the degree of damping.

5. A device for measuring differential fluid pressure as defined in claim 3 and which further includes a fabric cover secured to each face of said mounting ring for excluding extraneous matter entrained with the gaseous fluid admitted to said half casings.

6. In a device for measuring diiferential gaseous iiuid pressures, the combination comprising a gas tight casing, a pressure responsive diaphragm dividing the interior of said casing into two compartments which are hermetically sealed one from the other, said gas tight casing having separate gas inlets therein to each of said compartments for applying said pressures respectively to the opposite faces of Said diaphragm, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of said diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, electric coil means supported on said casing in one of said compartments coaxially with said rod, an iron core extending from one end of said rod, said core being slidable within said coil means upon axial displacement of said rod to produce an output voltage proportional to said displacement, magnetic field producing means supported on said casing in the other of said compartments, a restoring coil secured to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end of said rod for movement in said magnetic eld, said restoring coil being connected in circuit with said coil means and operable upon energisation thereof by said output voltage to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being substantially equal to and serving substantially to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to said rod by said diaphragm as a result of a change in the differential between the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the current nowing therein.

7. In a device vfor measuring dilerential gaseous fluid pressures, the combination comprising, a gas tight casing, a pressure responsive diaphragm extending across the interior of said casing, means for applying said pressures respectively to the opposite faces of said diaphragm, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of said diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, electric coil means supported on said casing coaxially with said rod an iron core extending from one end of said rod, said core being slidable within said coil means upon axial displacement of said rod to produce an output voltage proportional to said displacement, magnetic eld producing means supported on said casing, a restoring coil secured to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end of said rod for movement in said magnetic eld, said restoring coil being connected in circuit with said coil means and operable upon energisation thereof by said output voltage to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being substantially equal to and serving substantially to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to said rod by said diaphragm as a result of a change in the differential between the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the current flowing therein.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the magnetic eld producing means comprises an electro-magnet, said electro-magnet being energized by the current which passes through said restoring coil.

9. A device according to claim 7, in which said output Voltage is alternating and is applied to the input terminals of an amplifier, the resultant output voltage from said amplifier being unidirectional and being applied to said restoring coil for energisation thereof.

10. In a device for measuring diiferential gaseous fluid pressures, the combination comprising, a gas tight casing, a pressure responsive diaphragm extending across the interior of said casing, means for applying said pressures respectively to the opposite faces of said diaphragm, a rigid straight rod secured to the center of said diaphragm, said rod being perpendicular to the plane of said diaphragm and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a coil support fixed to lsaid casing, in-ductively related annular coil means arranged on said support coaxially with said rod, said coil means including a primary adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary, an iron core extending axially outward from one end of said rod, said core being slidable within the central openings in said coils from a neutral position upon axial displacement of said rod to produce in said secondary a voltage output proportional to the rod displacement, magnetic field producing means secured to the casing and positioned adjacent to the opposite end of said rod, a restoring coil secured to and arranged coaxially with the opposite end of said rod for movement in said magnetic field, said restoring coil being connected in circuit with said secondary and operable upon energisation thereof to establish a counter force acting axially of said rod, said counter force being equal to and serving to balance the force of opposite sense applied axially to said rod by said diaphragm as a result of a change in the differential between the two pressures applied to opposite faces of said diaphragm and current measuring means connected in circuit relation with said restoring coil for measuring the current flowing therein.

SAMUEL SKIPTON CARLISLE. BERNARD OWEN SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,568,140 Edge et al Jan. 5, 1926 1,718,494 Schurig June 25, 1929 2,117,894 Lenehan May 17, 1938 2,360,751 Ziebolz Oct. 17, 1944 2,495,157 Browne Jan. 17, 1950 2,511,752 Tandler et al June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 653,536 Great Britain May 16, 1951 

